Source: Huffington Post
One of the biggest barriers for people seeking mental health services in rural areas is the lack of availability of mental health care.
According to data published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, there aren’t enough (or any) resources for patients who need mental health care in at least 65 percent of rural areas, and additionally more than half of those counties don’t have a psychologist.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the highest suicide rates occur in rural areas where more veterans live and drug abuse surpasses that of any other areas.
More elderly people are alone and “at risk of isolation” on rural areas, the report notes.
In the most affected places in the U.S. such as in Nebraska, at least 88 of the state’s 93 counties are lacking in health care workers and have been affected by major budget cuts.
Read Full Story: Huffington Post